Expert: Estonia has 'overslept the drone revolution'
A new report claims Estonia failed to adapt to the drone revolution in defense, leaving the country unprepared to repel massive drone attacks, with slow progress and inadequate legal frameworks.
Estonia's defense shortcomings in drone warfare
According to a report by the NGO Põhimõtte koda, Estonia has missed the drone revolution in both military and broader state defense aspects. Expert Veiko-Vello Palm stated that the steps taken so far have been small and cautious, with virtually zero impact.
Palm emphasized that Estonia has not modernized its Defense Forces and overall state defense system to reflect an understanding of the ongoing transformation or the ability to respond to major changes in the Russian Federation.
Russia's drone potential
Palm noted that Russia plans to produce millions of drones by 2026, including several thousand combat units daily. Estonia's military defense is not ready to repel such mass attacks. Countering drones is not only a technological problem; tactics, unit structures, and personnel training must also change, but the breakthrough remains centered on technology.
Western countries' approach
Palm criticized Western armies for exhibiting two extremes: total apathy or unjustified optimism. On one hand, everyone sees that a mass-producible solution does not yet exist, but on the other hand, they console themselves with the thought that a NATO military conflict with Russia would be different.
Legal framework gaps
Besides the lack of technology, Palm pointed out insufficient legal regulation. Only this year, about four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a bill was submitted to ministries allowing police to more easily shoot down drones. However, given the number of protected targets and the likely intensity of attacks, even combined defense and police forces would be insufficient.
Vulnerability of critical infrastructure
Palm said the state is not ready to repel even small-scale interference, such as disruption of air traffic, which has been a problem at airports worldwide for years. Critical infrastructure providers have no funding or right to own anti-drone systems.
Palm concluded that progress is modest and slow, and Estonia seems willing to change only when all other options are exhausted.
